My Football Facts & Stats | African Football Football stats of the Africa Cup of Nations winners from 1957 to 2012 CAF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS The origins of the Africa Nations Cup date back to June 1956, when the creation of the Confederation of African Football was proposed during the third FIFA congress in Lisbon. There were immediate plans for a continental nations tournament to be held, and in February 1957, the first Africa Cup of Nations took place in Khartoum, Sudan. In 1957 there were only three participating nations: Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. South Africa was to compete, but was disqualified due to the apartheid policies of the government then in power. Since then, the tournament has grown, making it necessary to hold a qualifying tournament. The number of participants in the final tournament reached 16 in 1998 (16 teams were to compete in 1996 but Nigeria withdrew) and since then, the format has been unchanged, with the sixteen teams being drawn into four groups of four teams each, with the top two teams of each group advancing to a "knock-out" stage.

Egypt is the most successful nation in the cup's history, winning the tournament a record seven times, including the tournament in Angola 2010. Ghana and Cameroon have won four titles each. Three different trophies have been awarded during the tournament's history, with Ghana and Cameroon winning the first two after each of them won a tournament three times. The current trophy was first awarded in 2002. The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Finals was jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and took place from 21st January to 12th February 2012. Zambia won their first Title, beating the Ivory Coast on a penalty shoot-out. The tournament switched to odd years from 2013 onwards with South Africa the Host Nation, followed by Morocco in 2015 and Libya in 2017. Nigeria won the 2013 ACON beating Burkina Faso in the Final 1-0. Concerns by Morocco about the Ebola outbreak forced a switch of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to Equatorial Guinea, who had joint-hosted the tournament three years earlier with Gabon.

CAF ALL AFRICAN GAMES The men's football tournament has been held at every session of the All-Africa Games since 1965. Since the 1991 All-Africa Games, age limit for men teams is under-23 as the Summer Olympics. CAF AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE The African Champions League has been contested since 1964 with clubs from Egypt being the most succesful with 11 wins. The football competition used to be known as the African Cup of Champions Clubs from 1964 until 1996. The 2011 edition Final was played in November. VODACOM CHALLENGE The Vodacom Challenge is a association football pre-season tournament that features Vodacom-sponsored South African clubs Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs plus from 2006 onwards an invited European club. Prior to 2006, the competition consisted of the two Soweto clubs and two invited African clubs. Football in South Africa Football in South Africa Tweet on Twitter Football – or soccer, as many of us call it – is the most widely played sport in South Africa, with its traditional support base in the black community.

For many South Africans, the country’s proudest sporting moment came when we won the African Nations Cup on home turf in 1996. Soccer is intensely followed, and the quality of the local game keeps improving – as demonstrated by the increasing number of South African players-in-exile among the glamorous European clubs. Local teams, organised in a national league plus a plethora of knock-out cups, are followed with passion by paint-daubed, costumed, whistling and cheering fans. Mercifully, the country has been spared the spectre of football hooliganism. There’s probably no quicker way to “break the ice” with the South African on the street than to demonstrate some knowledge of local soccer. To help you improve your conversational skills, here’s a crash course on the country’s most important teams and competitions. First Division BAFANA BAFANA One of the first gifts that democracy brought South Africa was its first truly representative national soccer team. In 1992, two years before the country’s first democratic election, the united South African team came into being, playing Cameroon in its first match in Durban on 9 July.

It was a triumphant occasion for the side that came to be known as Bafana Bafana – “The Boys” – as they edged the West African powerhouse by a goal to nil. However, the win concealed the negative effect that apartheid-enforced isolation had had on local soccer. This lack of international experience showed as South Africa lost four matches in a row – to Cameroon, Zambia, Nigeria and Zambia – in failing to qualify for the 1994 African Nations Cup. When South Africa hosted the 1996 African Nations Cup, however, South Africa proved they belonged in the finals by defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final. It was during the team’s run to the title that its nickname, “Bafana Bafana”, became known around the world. Read more: Bafana Bafana – a quick history BANYANA BANYANA South Africa’s senior women’s team, Banyana Banyana – “The Girls” – have traditionally been the strongest team in southern Africa and one of the best in Africa. For many years, Nigeria were their stumbling block, but that barrier was finally broken down in 2012 in the semi-finals of the Caf African Women’s Championship.

Like Nigeria, though, Equatorial Guinea has twice beaten Banyana in the final of African Women’s Championship. The team finished runner-up to Nigeria in 1995 and 2000, and runner-up to Equatorial Guinea in 2008 and 2012. There were also second place finishes at the All Africa Games in 2003 and 2007. One of their biggest achievements was qualifying for the Olympic Games in 2012 in London. In a very tough pool, up against three teams ranked in the top 10 in the world, Banyana went down 1-4 to Sweden, lost 0-3 to Canada, but then held World Cup champions Japan to a goalless draw. GLAMOUR CLUBS Kaizer Chiefs South Africa’s favourite soccer club never seems to play an away match. “The Amakhozi” often draw more supporters at away games than their opposition.

Founded in 1970 by Kaizer Motaung – who made his name in the United States when the American league was drawing such superstars as Pele, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer – Kaizer Chiefs are one of South Africa’s most successful teams. Thrice the winners of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League since its launch in 1997, the Soweto, Johannesburg-based team secured their first African title in 2002 when they won the Cup Winners Cup – renamed after Nelson Mandela – by defeating Inter Luanda of Angola in the final. Orlando Pirates Formed in 1937, Orlando Pirates has a support base extending across the country’s borders. Four-time winners of SA’s Premier Soccer League since its launch in 1997, “The Buccaneers” are the only South African team so far to have won Africa’s premier club competition, the Champions League, a feat they achieved in 1995. Like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates – who are also based in Soweto, Johannesburg – are seldom disadvantaged when they play away from home, with fanatical supporters spread throughout South Africa.

The fierce traditional rivalry between Pirates and Chiefs makes for one of the biggest derby matches in the world. In November 2007, on the day preceding the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ draw in Durban, the Chiefs-Pirates derby was broadcast throughout Africa and 43 European countries, a first for South African football. Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United While Chiefs and Pirates have long battled for the title of South Africa’s most popular club, other outfits have emerged to challenge for the position, among them two Tshwane/Pretoria-based clubs: Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United. Backed by billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, Mamelodi Sundowns have the finances to ensure a squad with depth and quality. The club is often compared to England’s Chelsea, which rose to prominence partly through the backing of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. “The Brazilians” have been the most successful team since the formation of the Premier Soccer League in 1997, winning the title on five occasions, most recently in 2007. Since then, however, they have had to surrender the title to another “youngster” among South African football clubs.

SuperSport United was formed in 1994, when pay-television company M-Net bought Pretoria City and renamed the club after its popular sports channel. They lifted the PSL title in three successive years, from 2008 to 2010. PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE South Africa’s top soccer league, featuring the country’s best 16 clubs, came into being in 1997. The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has helped raise the standard of club football in South Africa, providing the sport with better media coverage and much-improved revenue through strong sponsorship deals. It has also provided a platform for local players to make their mark and catch the eye of overseas clubs. Sponsorship boom In June 2007, the PSL pulled off an astounding coup when it signed a R1.6-billion broadcast deal with SuperSport International. In August 2007, corporate heavyweights South African Breweries (SAB) and Absa Bank announced a joint sponsorship of more than R500-million over the next five years for South African football. SAB is behind Bafana Bafana, while Absa sponsors the PSL’s Premier Division.

In February 2008, Nedbank announced that it would be putting up R20-million in prize money for the Nedbank Cup knockout competition as part of a five-year, R400- million sponsorship of the local game. And in August 2008, cellular giant MTN committed the same amount – R400- million over five years – to the local game, while taking over the title sponsorship of the Top 8 knockout tournament. These deals combined have made South Africa’s Premier Soccer League the seventh biggest earner of sponsorship revenue among football leagues worldwide. Premier Soccer League champions: A number of knockout competitions are played alongside the league fixtures in South African soccer. Nedbank Cup A knockout competition modelled on England’s famous FA Cup, giving lower league teams the chance to do battle with premier league clubs, has been in existence since 1978, under various names: the Mainstay Cup (1978-1987), Bobsave Superbowl (1988-2002), Absa Cup (2003-07) and, from 2008, the Nedbank Cup.

With a total prize purse of R19.3-million, including R6-million for the winners, R2.5-million for the runners-up and R1-million for the losing semi-finalists, the Nedbank Cup is the most lucrative domestic soccer competition in Africa. Nedbank Cup champions: Home | African Nations Cup UK AFRICAN NATIONS CUP UK EXCITEMENT AT THE 2016 DRAW WEMBLEY STADIUM Royal Air Maroc gets behind 2016 African Nations Cup UK EXCITEMENT AT THE 2015 DRAW WEMBLEY STADIUM SIERRA LEONE: 2014 Champions! U15 CHAMPIONS: British Eaglets 1 0 Zanzibar SIERRA LEONE: Settled for Gold DENNIS HONORED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ETHIOPIA GHANA. 2013 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP UK WINNERS MOROCCO DJ. Authentic (in yellow), Pauline Long and DJ Abass KENYA FANS Latest Topics GHANA v UGANDA; A repeat of The 2011 African Cup UK Final!

- Saturday, June 25, 2016 Congratulations to Ghana and Uganda for once again reaching The 2016 African Nations Cup UK Finals. In Quarter Finals, Ghana edged West African giants Nigeria with a 1 -0 win to book a place in the Semis with a fitter Guinea Bissau, Uganda beat Senegal 2-1 and later a one all draw with Sierra Leone who lost 4-3 on penalties.The Finals will take place on 26th June at Terrence McMillan Stadium.. Read More PRESS RELEASE: Royal Air Maroc Sponsors The 2016 African Nations Cup UK - Wednesday, June 08, 2016 London, 7 June, 2016–Royal Air Maroc is proud to sponsor this year’s African Nations Cup UK (ANCUK), a grassroots football tournament for African communities in the UK. Twenty African teams will be taking part in the competition, which takes place in London between18th and 26th June, 2016. Read More...

ROYAL AIR MAROC GETS BEHIND THE 2016 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP UK - Thursday, April 28, 2016 We are pleased to announce that Royal Air Maroc is the main sponsor of The 2016 African Nations Cup UK. Royal Air Maroc, more commonly known as simply RAM, is the Moroccan national carrier, as well as the country's largest airline. RAM is fully owned by the government of Morocco, and has its headquarters on the grounds of Casablanca-Anfa Airport. Read More... CAMEROON WINS THE 2015 AFRICAN CUP! - Sunday, June 14, 2015 Team Cameroon beat Ghana 2-1 to win the 2015 African Nations Cup UK in a mouth watering West African affair. Ghana scored first in early stages of the game and Cameroon proved to be indomitable. It's the first time Cameroon wins the championship. In thefight for 3rd place, Morocco overcame a stubborn Senegal defence and won 2-1 to settle for Bronze. AGONY AND ECSTACY!

- Sunday, May 31, 2015 Defending Champions Sierra Leone and three time champs Nigeria crashed out in group stages of African Nations Cup UK as Somaliland, Uganda, Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Senegal progress to knock out stages of the competition that will be played on Saturday 6th June at West Ham Memorial Grounds a 1PM. Glamour and Gilts At African Nations Cup UK 2015 Draw at Wembley Stadium - Monday, April 13, 2015 The African Nations Cup UK 2015 draw at Wembley on the 10th of April 2015 was a glamorous occasion. The event lived up to expectations and was attended by the who is who of African football, from former players, to the elite at the heart of English football. Read More... WORLD REMIT CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION - Friday, March 13, 2015 We are so delighted to announce that Money Transfer giants World Remit have confirmed their participation in The 2015 African Nations Cup UK.

ANCUK Marketing Director Danny Lutaaya said, "World Remit is delighted to be part of it to celebrate the excitement, unity and passion the tournament will generate". Communications Giant Lebara Mobile gets behind African Nations Cup UK - Monday, March 09, 2015 We are pleased to announce that Communications Giant Lebara Mobile have agreed a sponsorship deal with the 2015 African Nations Cup UK event which kicks off on 30th May at West Ham Memorial Grounds. Wembley Stadium to Host The 2015 African Nations Cup UK Draws - Monday, March 02, 2015 The Home of English Football Wembley Stadium, will once again proudly host The 2015 African Nations Cup UK Draws on 10th April from 2PM. 20 countries Men's and U16 will participate this year in this memorable and most attended sports competition that unites the community and at the same time, exceptionally develops youth football at grassroot level. Read More...

Football Fanatic & Businessman Marshall Gore appointed new Chairman - Monday, March 02, 2015 The Executive Board of African Nations Cup UK has officially announced this morning the appointment of Mr Marshall Gore to the post of chairman for the organisation, the biggest community football tournament for all Africans in the UK will be contested by 20 countries this year alongside an U16 Youth structure. Read More... Sierra Leone Crowned 2014 African Cup UK Champions - Saturday, June 14, 2014 Congratulations to Sierra Leone after beating Nigeria 1 - 0 in The 2014 Ethiopian Airlines African Nations Cup UK football tournament. In the U15 African Nations Cup UK, Nigeria (British Eaglets) beat Zanzibar 1-0 to win the first ever fixture in the competition's history. Nigeria, Morocco, Zanzibar and Somalia all impressed in the first ever U15 African Nations Cup UK tournament infront of a well packed crowd consisting of parents, supporters and scouts from different clubs. Cameroon settled for 3rd spot in the hard heated battle with Uganda after missing out in the most prestigious final fixture in the African Community.

Holders Ghana Eliminated as African Nations Cup UK Throws Huge Surprises - Wednesday, June 04, 2014 Holders Ghana were the victim of surprise on the pitch. They were eliminated from Group A which include South Africa, Zimbabwe Tanzania and Uganda. Ghana lost to South Africa and drew with Uganda and beat Tanzania and Zimbabwe but 7 points was not enough to take them through. Vintage Zimbabwe finished the group as leaders on 9 points joined by Uganda who narrowly joined them by virtue of a superior goal difference. Fellow West African giants Nigeria had to depend on the results of Cameroon and Morocco to book their place in a last minute drama. Read More... Ethiopian Airlines gets behind 2014 African Nations Cup UK - Wednesday, April 30, 2014 Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's expanding national carrier, has been named as the official tournament sponsor of the African Nations Cup UK (ANCUK). One of the biggest community football tournaments in the UK and supported by the Football Association (FA), the African Nations Cup UK which is now in its sixth year, attracts thousands of spectators and involves 20 participating African countries.

The new sponsorship deal will see the tournament being branded as 'Ethiopian Airlines African Nations Cup UK'... Read More HISTORIC DRAWS AT WEMBLEY STADIUM - Friday, April 18, 2014 All smiles...Africa United! Wembley Stadium witnessed the first ever draws of African Nations Cup UK football tournament on 17th April. Defending champions Ghana seeded in Group A alongside South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. In Group B, Sierra Leone, Angola, Zanzibar, Zambia & Somalia. Group C: Nigeria, Algeria, Gambia, Rwanda & Camroon. Group D has Morocco, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Guinea Bissau ...PRESS RELEASE African Nations Cup UK given the Royal Seal of Approval at Buckingham Palace - Monday, October 07, 2013 African Nations Cup UK was among the 150 Volunteers from the grassroots and professional game who were honoured by HRH The Duke Of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace on 7th October for The FA's Grassroots Heroes Day.

This unique occasion followed by a match between two of England's oldest clubs, Polytechnic FC and Civil Service FC, which took place in the grounds of the Palace. Read more African Nations Cup UK to be honored at Buckingham Palace by TheFA - Thursday, September 26, 2013 For the outstanding contribution and service to football, African Nations Cup UK will be among the 150 heroes/projects to be honored at Buckingham Palace from HRH The Duke of Cambridge since 1863. read more ... FHPU & African Nations Cup UK for World Peace Day Football Event - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 The East African community (UGANDA, KENYA, TANZANIA and Team Rwanda) within the London area to participate in a One Day One Goal football event organised by FHPU (Football for Hope Peace and Unity) supported by African Nations Cup UK to celebrate World Peace Day this Saturday 21st at Coram’s Fields, Russell Square, London from 13:00 PM till late. Read more.. .

FROM AFRICAN NATIONS CUP UK STRAIGHT TO NATIONAL TEAM - Tuesday, August 13, 2013 Meet Nelson Senkatuuka who turns out for Cranes United FC in Romford and District Senior League who got a surprise call to the CHAN Uganda National team by Serbian Coach Micho after impressing in African Nations Cup UK and in a local Clans competition. Read More... TEAM GAMBIA WINS THE FA NATIONAL FOOTBALL DAY TOURNAMENT - Saturday, August 10, 2013 Team Gambia wins TheFA National Football Day celebrations tournament. Gambia beat Team Senegal in the to lift the cup which was contested mainly by the youth. Ahead of The 2014 African Nations Cup UK tournament due in May, Gambian manager Yayah Jammeh said, "We shall continue using the youth, motivate, encourage them to increase their participation and through this, we will see a different Gambian team come 2014 African Nations Cup UK tournament". GHANA CLINCHES 1ST TITLE - Thursday, June 13, 2013 GHANA vs SIERRA LEONE.

As the finalists took to the Upton Park pitch (June 15), we took time to look around and consider our surroundings. With a record 1033 participants, here in one of the elite football grounds in Britian, the African Nations Cup UK was contested. A Premier League ground for a premiere league competition – one with a justly deserved and growing national and international reputation. Read More... FREE HIV tests to be offered during African Nations Cup UK! - Wednesday, May 22, 2013 FANS attending the African Nations Cup UK due to take place at West Ham's Upton Park stadium in June will be offered free HIV tests by the Terrence Higgins Trust's under the Play It Safe project. On the weekends of June 1 to 2 and 8 to 9 and 15, the numerous African communities in the UK will be participating in the African Nations Cup UK.

Read More Team Nigeria holds Press Conference at the Nigerian Embassy - Wednesday, April 03, 2013 The 2012 African Nations Cup UK Champions, Nigeria will be held a Press Conference and presentation ceremony of their African Nations Cup UK 2012 Winners trophy to the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR. CFR, on Tuesday 9th April ahead of the African Nations Cup 2013. The event aims to help create more awareness and generate the needed support from the Nigerian community in the UK that will boost the chances of Team Nigeria winning the ANCUK trophy this year 2013. read more ... 2013 DRAW RESULTS FROM WEST HAM STADIUM - Friday, March 01, 2013 The 2013 African Nations Cup UK draws are finished and done successfully conducted by Kevin Coleman of Kick It Out, Stephen Sodge of Sodge Sports Foundation and Sam Ochieng from African Nations Cup UK. Group C seems to be the group of death with heavy weight teams such as Uganda, Morocco, Ghana, Mauritius & Gambia. Other group results as they happened: Read more...

2013 ANCUK Affiliated to Essex County FA - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 We are so happy to announce that The 2013 African Nations Cup UK games have been Affiliated and Sanctioned by Essex County Football Association. All match officials will also come from Essex FA. read more ... PARTNERSHIP WITH KICK IT OUT - Monday, February 18, 2013 African Nations Cup UK is pleased to announce the partnership with Kick It Out to deliver good causes in the communities. Mr. Kevin Coleman of will conduct the draws for the 20 countries at West Ham United Stadium on Friday 1st March. WEST HAM UNITED FC STADIUM: Host Venue for 2013 ANCUK Finals - Tuesday, February 05, 2013 We are proud to announce that the 2013 African Nations Cup UK Finals and Losers' games will be hosted at The Boleyn Ground, West Ham United FC Stadium, Upton Park on 15th June. 20 Countries, One Game, One Dream... Watch Video...

VUVUZELAS FOR 2013 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP UK - Thursday, October 18, 2012 2017 Africa Cup of Nations: Egypt and Senegal qualify for Gabon - BBC Sport BBC Sport 2017 Africa Cup of Nations: Egypt and Senegal qualify for Gabon 4 Jun Read more about sharing. Roma winger Mohamed Salah scored both of Egypt's goals in Tanzania Egypt and Senegal qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon on Saturday as the penultimate round of fixtures continued. Roma winger Mohamed Salah scored both of Egypt's goals in a 2-0 victory away to Tanzania as they returned to the finals of a Nations Cup for the first time since 2010. Senegal sealed their place at Gabon 2017 thanks to goals from their English Premier League players, Sadio Mane and Mame Biram Diouf, who both scored in a 2-0 win away to Burundi.

Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers: Grp G - Tanzania 0-2 Egypt (Q) Grp E - Guinea-Bissau 3-2 Zambia Grp K - Burundi 0-2 Senegal (Q) Grp C - South Sudan 0-3 Mali Grp H - Rwanda 2-3 Mozambique Grp I - Sierra Leone 1-0 Sudan Grp D - Botswana 1-2 Uganda Grp M - Gambia 0-4 South Africa Grp K - Namibia 1-0 Niger Grp I - Ivory Coast 2-1 Gabon (Friendly) Grp F - Sao Tome 1-2 Cape Verde Saturday's game in Dar es Salaam was Egypt's final match in the qualifiers, following Chad's withdrawal from Group G. Despite the absence of Al Ahly captain Hossam Ghaly, who was left out of the squad by Argentine coach Hector Cuper, Egypt secured the victory which ended Tanzania's faint hopes of qualifying. Seven-time African champions Egypt knew that anything better than a 4-0 defeat would be enough for them to reach Gabon, having missed the last three Nations Cups.

Salah's opening goal for the Pharoahs came from a sweetly struck free-kick a minute before half-time. Tanzania missed a chance to equalise in the 54th minute. They were awarded a penalty only for Mbwana Samatta to shoot over the bar. Salah then sealed the victory for Egypt scoring his second of the game just four minutes later. Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf scored Senegal's second goal against Burundi Joining Egypt in Gabon will be Senegal who defeated Burundi 2-0 in Bujumbura to ensure they will top Group K. Southampton winger Sadio Mane put Senegal ahead in the 16th minute. His fellow England based compatriot, Stoke City striker Mame Biram Diouf, added a second three minutes before half-time to secure Senegal's qualification. The Teranga Lions have won all of their qualifiers so far and top the group with a maximum 15 points, while second placed Burundi have just six. The group's other fixture was a fight for survival with Namibia beating Niger 1-0 courtesy of a 15th minute goal from Peter Shalulile.

The win keeps Namibia's hopes of finishing as one of the best second placed sides alive but Niger cannot now qualify. Guinea-Bissau are on the verge of their first ever appearance at an Africa Cup of Nations finals after securing a 3-2 home win over 2012 champions Zambia. A Zezinho penalty gave the hosts an early lead before Collins Mbesuma equalised. Arnaud Mendy restored Guinea-Bissau's lead which they held until the 48th minute, when Nations Cup winner Chris Katongo levelled the match to 2-2. A 90th minute winner from Toni Silva put Guinea-Bissau four points clear at the top of Group E. They will qualify if second placed Congo lose in Kenya on Sunday. Zambia now face a struggle to secure one of the best second-placed spots. Uganda moved closer towards qualification with a vital 2-1 win away to Botswana to move three points clear at the top of Group D. Luwagga Kizito put the Cranes ahead in the 10th minute, with Onkabetse Makgantai equalising in the second half for the home side.

It only stayed 1-1 for two minutes, as Khalid Aucho scored Uganda's winner in the 54th minutes to give his country hope of going through to the Nations Cup finals for the first time since 1978. Group C leaders Mali also improved their chance of advancing to the finals with a 3-0 win away to South Sudan. Goals from Abdoulay Diaby, Mobido Maiga and Mousa Doumbia gave Mali the victory which moves them five points ahead of second placed Benin who will now play their Group C match against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday 12 June after Fifa conditionally lifted Benin's ban. Sierra Leone moved to within a point of reigning African champions and Group I leaders Ivory Coast with a 1-0 win over Sudan in Freetown. Sheka Fofanah scored the only goal for the Leone Stars to keep their hopes of qualifying alive. Two goals apiece from Thamsanqa Gabuza and Keagan Dolly gave South Africa an emphatic 4-0 win away to The Gambia. It keeps alive Bafana Bafana's faint hopes of a best runners-up spot in Group M, won by Cameroon on Saturday.

In Group H, there was an eventful match in Kigali where second placed Rwanda lost 2-3 to visitors Mozambique who sit bottom of the group. Domingues put Mozambique ahead in the 10th minute, with Jacques Tuyisenge equalising on the 37 minute mark. Apson Manjate made it 2-1 to Mozambique with Tuyisenge scoring his second of the game to level the match at 2-2. Helder Pelembe then scored a winner for the visitors eight minutes from time to record their first win of the campaign. In Group F, Cape Verde boosted their hopes of qualifying as one of the two best runners-up with a 2-1 win away to Sao Tome e Principe. Morocco have already qualified as Group F winners. The final round of group matches will be played in September. Share this page Bafana Bafana: a quick history Bafana Bafana: a quick history Bafana Bafana: a quick history 11 May 2009 Tweet on Twitter Soccer and democracy South Africa’s national football team, known as Bafana Bafana (“The Boys”), has a relatively short international history.

That’s because the first team to represent all South Africans only played its first match in 1992 – two years before the country’s first democratic elections. Bafana’s first match was played in Durban, against Cameroon, on 7 July 1992. It proved to be a strong debut against one of Africa’s leading teams, which had made the quarterfinals of the World Cup only two years previously. Doctor Khumalo scored the game’s only goal to give South Africa a 1-0 win. Despite that victory over the Indomitable Lions, the effects of isolation soon showed as South Africa failed to qualify for the 1994 African Nations Cup after suffering four defeats in succession – to Cameroon, Zambia, Nigeria and Zambia. African Nations Cup 1996 Two years later, however, Bafana Bafana’s place at the African Nations Cup finals was assured when the country hosted the tournament. Under coach Clive Barker, the national team rose to the occasion, topping its group after beating Cameroon 3-0 and Angola 1-0 before losing 1-0 to Egypt.

In the quarterfinals, Bafana beat Algeria 2-1 to set up a semi-final clash against Ghana, the only team that had won all its games up until that stage of the competition. Putting in one of the finest performances ever by the South African national team, the home side triumphed 3-0 in front of 75 000 spectators at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Bafana faced Tunisia in the final, after the North Africans had defeated Zambia 4-2 in the semi-finals. In front of a crowd of 80 000 at the FNB Stadium, Neil Tovey’s men gave the supporters what they wanted by beating the Tunisians 2-0, with Mark Williams netting both goals. 1996: the Boys play Brazil Still in 1996, the potential of South African football was demonstrated when Bafana Bafana took on world champions Brazil, who were at full strength, in a Mandela Cup match in Johannesburg.

Philemon Masinga put South Africa into a 25th-minute lead and Doctor Khumalo then made it 2-0 to the home side at the break, to the delight of the Bafana fans. The Brazilians fought back after the break, with Flavio netting in the 56th minute. Twelve minutes later, Rivaldo made it 2-2. Then, with only four minutes left, Bebeto, one of the heroes of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning team, snatched the winner for the visitors. Although South Africa lost, the match provided ample proof that the team’s African Nations Cup title was no fluke. It also proved to be a wonderful celebration of the game of football, and of the role Nelson Mandela played in bringing democracy to the country. World Cup 1998 Bafana Bafana continued to excel on the international stage when, in 1997, the team qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time. They faced the difficult task of taking on the hosts, France, in their first match in Group C.

The French, with probably the best team in the country’s history, beat South Africa 3-0. France went on to beat Brazil by the same score in the final. Bafana Bafana drew 1-1 with Denmark in the team’s second match, then shared a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia. The two draws and one loss saw South Africa exit the event in the group stages after finishing third in its group. African Nations Cup 1998 Also in 1998, Bafana defended their African Nations Cup title in Burkina Faso. In a controversial decision, taken shortly before the finals, coach Clive Barker was sacked and Jomo Sono appointed in a caretaker role. Some forecasts were dire, but the South African team again rose to the challenge to perform well. They finished second behind the Ivorians in their group, after a 0-0 draw against Angola, a 1-1 draw with the Ivory Coast and a 4-1 win over Nambia. A young striker by the name of Benni McCarthy made his mark by netting four goals inside 21 minutes in the victory over the Namibians.

In the quarterfinals, South Africa beat Morocco 2-1 as McCarthy and David Nyathi netted. That earned them a semi-final place against the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the semi-final, McCarthy scored on the hour-mark to level the scores after South Africa had fallen behind in the 48th minute. He then struck in extra time to earn Bafana a 2-1 win and a place in the final against Egypt, who had beaten the hosts Burkina Faso in the other semi-final. The dream of successive titles was brought to an end in the final when the Pharaohs scored two early goals to take a 2-0 victory. Nonetheless, given the uncertain build-up to the tournament, it was a good showing by South Africa. 1999: first win over European opposition Despite very average results in 1999, Bafana managed to win the Afro-Asian Trophy after beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Cape Town and then drawing 0-0 in Riyadh. In November 1999, Bafana Bafana achieved a notable milestone when they scored their first win over European opposition.

It came in the Nelson Mandela Challenge against Sweden at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Siyabonga Nomvete was the hero, netting an 87th minute goal to snatch a late victory for the home side. At the African Nations Cup in 2000, hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, Bafana Bafana topped their group, beating Gabon 3-1, the DRC 1-0, and playing to a 0-0 draw with Algeria. In the quarterfinals, Siyabonga Nomvete scored the only goal as South Africa eliminated one of the hosts, Ghana. In the semi-finals, SA’s footballing nemesis, Nigeria, beat Bafana 2-0. South Africa ultimately finished third after beating Tunisia 4-3 from the penalty spot after the teams had played to a 2-2 draw in the playoff. World Cup 2002 Although South Africa’s African Nations Cup performances had gradually slipped over three continental finals – from winners to finalists to semi-finalists – their performances in at the 2002 Fifa World Cup in South Korea and Japan were noteworthy.

Competing in group B, they drew 2-2 with Paraguay and then beat Slovenia 1-0. That left Bafana with a shot of making it to the round of 16, but a tough encounter against highly fancied Spain awaited the side. In a back-and-forth tussle, Spain took an early lead through Raul. Benni McCarthy struck back in the 31st minute to make it 1-1. Gaizka Mendieta then edged the Spaniards in front with a goal in first-half injury time. Only eight minutes into the second stanza, Lucas Radebe levelled the scores. Raul, however, restored Spain’s lead three minutes later, and that’s how it ended: South Africa 2, Spain 3. At the same time as Bafana Bafana and Spain were doing battle, Slovenia and Paraguay were in action. The Slovenians took a 1-0 lead into the break, which meant South Africa would qualify for the next round regardless of whether or not they lost to Spain. Paraguay, however, came roaring back in the second half, netting three times to win 3-1.

The South Americans’ third goal, scored in the 84th minute, was enough to see them progress at South Africa’s expense, but only by the narrowest of margins: both had the same number of points, and the same goal difference. Paraguay, though, had scored and conceded six goals to South Africa’s five and five. African Nations Cup slide South Africa’s African Nations Cup slide continued in the finals held in Mali in 2002. Bafana Bafana qualified at the top of their group, albeit with a record of only one win and two draws. They opened with a 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso, and followed that up with another goalless draw against Ghana. A 3-1 victory over Morocco, however, was enough to open a path to the quarterfinals. There, Bafana Bafana met the hosts and were beaten 2-0. In 2003, the national side managed a record of only six wins, a draw and four losses. Worryingly, losses began to come against teams that South Africa needed to beat to maintain a strong Fifa world ranking – countries like Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Egypt.

The decline was made clear for all to see at the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia. Despite opening with a 2-0 win over Benin, Bafana Bafana failed to progress beyond the group stages. They were humbled 4-0 by Nigeria, and drew 1-1 with Morocco. 2004: World Cup bid succeeds In May 2004, however, the mood of South African football fans was considerably brightened when the country won the right to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ – the first African country to be awarded the honour. And in November 2004, the Nigerian bogey was finally ended when Bafana Bafana beat the Super Eagles 2-1 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Despite a decent showing as an invited team to the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup, in which they drew three matches and beat Mexico 2-1, 2005 was not a good year for South Africa’s national football team. They scraped wins over lightly regarded teams early in the year, but ended it with four losses and a draw in their last five matches.

Egypt 2006: Bafana hit bottom Although they qualified for the 2006 African Nations Cup in Egypt, the tournament proved to be a disaster for South Africa. They lost all three matches they played and failed to score a single goal as they crashed out of the tournament as the bottom team in their group. With four years remaining until 2010 and the national team in disarray – and down to 72nd in Fifa’s world rankings – a decision was made to acquire a big-name coach to prepare Bafana for the World Cup. Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, who had coached Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Saudi Arabia in previous World Cup finals, took up the post. Parreira achieved his first goal of earning qualification for the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana, but South Africa once again bowed out in the first round. 2008: improvement under Parreira They finished bottom of group D in Ghana after two draws and one loss, which was, at least, an improvement over their previous campaign. Bafana drew 1-1 with both Angola and Senegal, and lost 3-1 to Tunisia.

After that, South Africa appeared to be making progress under Parreira, and a stylish 3-0 victory over Paraguay in March 2008 was cause for optimism. The following month, however, Parreira abruptly resigned his position to be with his wife, who had recently undergone surgery for cancer. His replacement was another Brazilian, recommended by Parreira: Joel Santana, who brought with him an excellent record in Brazilian club football, but no international experience. 2008/09: Santana in at the deep end Santana was thrown in at the deep end, taking over just before a series of African Nations Cup qualifiers. He didn’t know the players, he didn’t have time to work with them – and South Africa failed to qualify for the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola. The tide seemed to be turning, however, when South Africa scored a national record five consecutive wins in succession – over Zambia, Cameroon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and Malawi.

However, disappointing losses to Chile and Portugal in early 2009, either side of a last-gasp win over Norway, suggested that Bafana still had considerable ground to make up if they were to progress beyond the group stages of the 2010 World Cup. 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup At the Confederations Cup, a World Cup warm-up event played in South Africa in June 2009, Bafana Bafana gave a good account of themselves in reaching the semi-finals. With a place in the final on the line, they went down 1-0 to eventual champions Brazil, who scored only three minutes from time. Against Spain, in the play-off for third and fourth, Bafana pushed the European champions into extra time before succumbing 3-2. With good performances against the world’s two top teams, confidence in the national side was running high. Sadly, this proved to be a false dawn.

Parreira returns In August and September 2009, Serbia beat Bafana 3-1 in Tshwane/Pretoria, Germany beat them 2-0 in Leverkusen in September, and Ireland won 1-0 in Limerick before South Africa scored an unconvincing 1-0 win over minnows Madagascar at home. And in October 2009, Bafana went down 1-0 to Norway in Oslo and 1-0 to Iceland in Reykjavik. Eight losses in nine matches saw Bafana Bafana drop to a 16-year low of 85th in Fifa’s world rankings. Not long afterwards, on 19 October 2009, the South African Football Association announced that Joel Santana had stepped down as coach of South Africa’s national team. On 23 October his replacement was announced: none other than Carlos Alberto Parreira. “I see light at the end of the tunnel,” Parreira told Fifa in an interview the following month. “When we have this team up to a good level of fitness, they will prove far more competitive. This side has played at a high level before.

When I worked here the first time we beat Paraguay 3-0, and that’s the standard I want the team to get back to.” The 2010 Fifa World Cup Under Parreira, Bafana Bafana’s fortunes improved dramatically. In fact, by the time the World Cup arrived the team was on a 12-match unbeaten run. Included in the results were wins over fellow World Cup finalists Denmark and highly-regarded Colombia, as well as some big victories over lesser lights. Thailand were handed a 4-0 hiding and Guatemala were then on the wrong end of a 5-0 result, which was South Africa’s biggest win yet, in captain Aaron Mokoena’s 100th international. At Soccer City in Soweto, Bafana got the World Cup off to a rousing start when they played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Mexico. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal of the tournament with one of the best shots of the tournament, but Rafael Marquez netted an equaliser 11 minutes from time to earn the Mexicans a share of the spoils.

Things did not go well for South Africa in their second game as they fell 3-0 to Uruguay. Diego Forlan, who went on to win the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament, pulled the strings for the South Americans and a few breaks went against Bafana to leave the team on the verge of elimination ahead of their final game against France. Showing impressive heart and teamwork, Bafana put on an impressive showing against the 2006 finalists in Bloemfontein, winning 2-1, which proved to be not enough to make it to the next round. They did at least end on a high and the fans showed their appreciation for the players’ whole-hearted effort. The match was Carlos Alberto Parreira’s last one in charge of the team. Thanks to their much improved form under the Brazilian, and their results in the World Cup, they improved from 83rd place in the Fifa World Rankings before the World Cup to 66th place after its completion. Pitso Mosimane era Parreira’s former assitant Pitso Mosimane took over from the Brazilian as coach of the national team after the World Cup and initially the results under him were good.

In his first nine matches in charge, South Africa won six times, drew twice and lost 1-0 to the USA. However, from August 2011 to May 2012 the fortunes of Bafana tumbled as they played another seven matches, winning none, drawing five and losing two. Goal scoring proved to be the problem that Mosimane was unable to fix. Under him, Bafana played 16 matches and scored only 14 goals while they conceded seven. That wasn’t the kind of record that drew the support of fans and earned the team important wins. In fact, unfortunately, the most memorable match under Mosimane was a game against Sierra Leone in Nelspruit, which was the last match of Bafana’s campaign to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations. After a goalless draw, the South African team celebrated qualification for the continental finals. Embarrassingly, they did not understand the qualifying criteria and the team had, in fact, missed out on the finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

At the beginning of June 2012, Mosimane was axed after a 1-1 draw against 138th ranked Ethiopia in a 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier played in Rustenburg. Just less than a month later, Gordon Igesund was named his successor. Gordon Igesund Coach Igesund, a winner of the Premier Soccer League title with Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos and Mamelodi Sundowns, faced the tough task of reviving Bafana Bafana’s fortunes, but he had a big opportunity for a quick turn-around with South Africa hosting the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. From his first match in charge, a narrow 1-0 loss to Brazil in Brazil, Igesund focussed on preparing his team for Afcon 2013. Results were not the be-all and end-all of his approach and while that made some supporters unhappy, he fielded a vastly improved team for Afcon. Bafana Bafana won their group after beating Angola and drawing with Cape Verde and Morocco, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by world number 25 Mali, who won from the penalty spot.

Importantly, though, the home team’s wholehearted approach earned the approval of fans and the side rocketed 25 places up in the Fifa rankings after the tournament to 60th in the world. Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website? See: Using SAinfo material TAGS

Question: In football, which country won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, their first title?
Answer: ZAMBIA